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As of 15 June 2025, the Department of Social Development (DSD) has confirmed that over 3,000 people have been impacted by the devastating floods that recently struck the OR Tambo District and surrounding areas in the Eastern Cape.
According to an official update, 1,574 individuals from King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality (KSD) have been directly affected, while 1,283 people have been displaced from their homes. The floods have claimed 81 lives across the Eastern Cape, with 73 of those fatalities recorded specifically in OR Tambo.
The Department of Social Development, in collaboration with SASSA and other government partners, has mobilized resources to deliver emergency social relief and psychosocial support to affected communities. These interventions include the provision of shelter, food parcels, and trauma counselling for displaced families and those who have lost loved ones.
In a public statement, DSD extended its condolences:
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to all grieving families and assure communities of continued support.”
The scale of the disaster has prompted widespread concern, with many local NGOs and faith-based organisations also stepping in to assist. Relief operations are ongoing as the government continues to assess the damage and coordinate recovery strategies.
Hashtags such as #DSDResponds, #SASSACARES, #ORtamboFloods, and #MthathaFloodRelief are being used to share updates and mobilise community involvement.
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